Blair v. USA

Filing 8

ORDER & OPINION denying 7 Motion to Appoint Counsel. Entered by Judge Joe Billy McDade on 11/9/9. (cc:Pla)(HK, ilcd)

Monday, 09 November, 2009 03:50:23 PM Clerk, U.S. District Court, ILCD

E-FILED

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT CENTRAL DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
PEORIA DIVISION JOHN E BLAIR, Petitioner, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Respondent. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Case No. 09-cv-1351

ORDER & OPINION
Petitioner has filed a motion for the appointment of counsel (Doc. 7). The motion is DENIED. The appointment of counsel to Petitioner is not appropriate at this time. The decision of whether to appoint counsel in a federal post-conviction proceeding is within the Court's discretion. 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(a)(2)(B); Winsett v. Washington, 130 F.3d 269, 281 (7th Cir. 1997). The Court also has broad discretion in deciding whether to request that an attorney represent an indigent litigant. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1); Pruitt v. Mote, 503 F.3d 647, 653-55 (7th Cir. 2007). In deciding whether such a request to counsel is warranted, a district court must first consider whether the indigent litigant has made a reasonable attempt to obtain counsel independently. Pruitt, 503 F.3d at 654. There is no indication that Petitioner has made a reasonable effort to obtain counsel independently. Further, at this time, the Court does not believe that the representation of Petitioner by an attorney would affect the outcome of this action. If discovery or an evidentiary hearing becomes

necessary, or if the Court finds that changed circumstances warrant the appointment of counsel at some point down the line, the Court will revisit today's decision. IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Petitioner's motion for the appointment of counsel (Doc. 7) is DENIED.

Entered this 9th day of November, 2009. s/ Joe B. McDade JOE BILLY MCDADE United States District Judge

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